Max Mosley turns on BMW and Mercedes over their role in WWII as 'Nazi orgy' row escalates

By BETH HALE

Last updated at 12:02 04 April 2008

Motor racing chief Max Mosley yesterday attacked the war record of two leading German car firms as he sought to defend himself against allegations he took part in a Nazi sex fantasy.

Facing calls to resign as president of the motor racing's governing body the FIA, he turned defence into attack against BMW and Mercedes.

The two companies have issued statements expressing their disgust at his conduct after a Sunday newspaper revelation that Mr Mosley, son of Hitler sympathiser Sir Oswald, took part in a sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes.

Scroll down for more ...

The images printed in the New of the World, showing Mosley taking part in an orgy with five prostitutes. He now wants people's sexual preferences to remain private

While the 67-year-old, who has been married for 40 years, admits being involved in the five-hour session in a "torture dungeon" in London, he says he will not resign because the central allegation that he played out SS death camp scenes is false.

Pressure mounted on Mr Mosley yesterday as the Crown Prince of Bahrain asked him not to attend this weekend's grand prix in the kingdom, saying a visit would be "inappropriate".

BMW and Mercedes branded his behaviour "disgraceful".

Shamed: Max Mosley

But Mr Mosley hit back with a barbed statement in which he pointed a finger at their war allegiances.

"Given the history of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, particularly before and during the Second World War, I fully understand why they would wish to strongly distance themselves from what they rightly describe as the disgraceful content of these publications.

"Unfortunately they did not contact me before putting out their statement to ask whether the content was in fact true."

Like many other German companies during that period of history, the car manufacturers turned their hand towards machinery that would help Hitler's war effort.

BMW produced a string of engines used by the Luftwaffe.

Mercedes provided the Nazis - including Hitler himself - with staff cars, and also engines for the Luftwaffe.

Before the outbreak of war, Hitler sponsored the Mercedes racing team.

Mr Mosley's sexual antics were captured on camera at a £2million riverside flat in Chelsea, just a short walk from where he lives with his wife Joan.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz issued a joint statement, which said: "The content of the publications is disgraceful.

"As a company, we strongly distance ourselves from it. This incident concerns-Max Mosley, both personally and as president of the FIA, the global umbrella organisation for motoring clubs.